BUCKFIELD – Marching to the cadence of drums, American Legion Post 58 of Buckfield honored its fallen heroes Monday.

Timothy Cooper delivered a tribute standing in front of the Honor Roll of Buckfield veterans in the town square. “Under the quiet sod, or beneath the murmuring waves, their bodies sleep in peace, but in the destinies of veterans, their souls go marching on. Because of them, we are free.”

After a prayer by Post Chaplain James Scrivner, Commander Richard Pope tossed flowers onto the Nezinscot River in memory of sailors lost in service.

A parade proceeded to the Buckfield-Damon cemetery. Immediately after a 12-gun salute honored the most recently deceased veteran, Loren Turner played Taps, which was echoed from afar by Phil Meyer.

The honored veteran this year was William P. Jones, who died on March 13. His son William Jones Jr. said his dad served in the military from 1944 to 1968. He was a senior master sergeant with duties as a weather forecaster in Germany, Japan, Korea and Guam.

“He was a proud American patriot and was voted Legionnaire of the year in 1999-2000. He put flags up all over the country,” Jones Jr. said.

A large crowd gathered to pay their respects to veterans who lost their lives in their duty to their country on the warm and sunny day.

“Because of them, our nation lives,” Cooper said.